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Tricia keeps track of the books she reads (“sort of”), and her favorite from the year 2016 was Big Magic, by Elizabeth Gilbert. In this episode, she explains her love of the book and highly recommends that you buy it—not borrow it—because “you’re going to want to write all over it.” (She admits being guilty of writing in library books because she forgot that she didn’t own them.  Large fines were involved.)

Tricia shares an excerpt from the book in which Gilbert describes “the nasty dialogue” going on in your head when you feel you “are stupid, have no talent, and you serve no purpose.” This quote kicks off a conversation in which Rob and Tricia discuss the importance of having confidence and belief in ourselves first before we can have a message or gift to offer our world. 

“My responsibility is to just show up.”—Gilbert.

“My responsibility is not that the work be great; my responsibility is that I show up every time and that I continue.” –Rob

“At the end, someone might say, ‘oh, I was hoping for more.’ Okay, well, I gave it everything I had. I poured my cup into yours—that’s what I had.” – Andy Stanley

“Defend yourself to yourself today!” – Tricia

“So very rarely will you be trusted to do a thing until you have proven that you already know how to do the thing. In a job interview, people will ask you questions about if you can do this job that they’re hiring you to do. They’re not hiring you to learn how to do it or to teach you how to do it, they’re hiring you to do it. So you may need to create your own opportunities to get the chance to do it.” – Rob

Tricia and Rob discuss the “six thinking hats” (see resource below) as an effective way to look at all sides of a project or creative process, whether you’re thinking, imagining and creating alone or with a team. They also dialogue on the benefits of inviting someone into your thinking process just to help you look both creatively and realistically at all sides!

Resources mentioned and highly recommended:

Gilbert, Elizabeth. Big Magic

Pressfield, Steven. The War of Art

Godin, Seth. What to Do when It’s Your Turn (and It’s Always Your Turn)

DeBono, Edward. The Six Thinking Hats

Iger, Robert. The Ride of a Lifetime